Awning fabric breakaway water valve/window

ABSTRACT

An awning includes at least one fabric panel having a water drip hole therethrough with a breakaway water valve/window for release of accumulated rainwater therethrough. One or more gutters may be provided and disposed beneath the awning drip holes for conducting water to an outside perimeter of the awning. The breakaway water valve/window includes a flap hingeably attached to the fabric awning under the drip hole along an edge portion thereof and a pressure sensitive release or joiner is disposed between the fabric awning and another edge portion of the flap.

The present invention generally relates to awning assemblies,particularly to awnings of the type for mounting to a substantiallyvertical support surface. More particularly, the present invention isdirected to a breakaway water valve/window apparatus for draining waterfrom the awning.

Typically, a retractable arm awning includes a roller disposed in a boxfixed to a vertical wall with awning fabric extending between the rollerand a header.

The header is held and moved by support arms between a retractedposition proximate the wall to an extended position wherein the fabricawning extends between the wall mounted roller and the header. Suchawning assemblies may be utilized with recreational vehicles, traveltrailers, mobile homes, and the like, but are also useable with fixedstructures.

During precipitation, water typically collects on fabric panels whenextended. The weight of the water can cause damage to the mountingassembly and accordingly should be drained periodically if the awning isto be used during precipitation periods.

Heretofore, to remove water from the awning, a user often must push thecanopy upwards to raise a deflected portion to a height that allows thewater to drain over a side or front of the awning. This procedure cancause damage to the awning and may result in splashing water onto theuser.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved awning and breakaway watervalve/window therefore to provide a protective cover over a patio oralong side a recreational vehicle which can be used during periods ofrain without damage and manual water removal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An awning in accordance with the present invention generally includes atleast one fabric panel having a water drip hole therethrough along witha breakaway water valve/window, which in turn includes a flap hingeablyattached to the fabric awning under the water drip hole and along anedge portion of the flap.

A pressure sensitive releasable joiner may be disposed between thefabric awning and another edge portion of the flap. Examples of thisjoiner include Velcro® fasteners and suitable releasable adhesives.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the edge portion and anotheredge portion comprise an entire perimeter of the flap.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the joiner comprises aresilient flap material, the flap may be circular, the edge portion maycomprise a circumferential arc and another edge portion may comprise aradius.

More particularly, the awning may include a roller for winding the panelthereabout and the edge portion is disposed at a position for enablingresealing of a released joiner upon rolling of the panel onto theroller.

A further embodiment of the present invention includes a gutter disposedunder the flap and panel opening for conducting water passing throughthe hole to an outside perimeter of the panel. Such a gutter ispreferably formed from a flexible fabric material which is rollable withthe panel about the roller.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the gutter has an axisgenerally parallel to a slope of the panel and another embodiment of thepresent invention the gutter has an axis generally perpendicular to theslope of the panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will be betterunderstood by the following description when considered in conjunctionof the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an awning in accordance with the presentinvention as it may be attached to a vertical surface and extendingtherefrom generally illustrating a plurality of fabric panels havingwater valves therein;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the awning taken along the line 2-2;

FIGS. 3-7 show an embodiment of a valve/window in accordance with thepresent invention which includes a flap hingeably attached to a fabricawning along an edge portion of a flap, a pressure sensitive releasablejoiner such as Velcro® is utilized to releasably adhere the flap to theawning while enabling resealing thereof, once opened, by rolling theawing onto a roller;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment valve/windowutilized in the awning shown in FIG. 1 including a generally circularflap with an edge portion comprising a circumferential arc and anotheredge portion comprising a radius, a joiner, as hereinafter described,includes a resilient flap material;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the valve/window shown in FIG. 8taken along the line 9-9;

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an awning in accordance with the presentinvention further including a gutter disposed for conducting waterpassing through the valve to an outside perimeter of the panel, thegutter being having an axis generally parallel to a slope of a panel;

FIG. 12 illustrate a windable flattened gutter; and

FIGS. 13-15 illustrates an alternative gutter arrangement in accordancewith the present invention, the gutter being formed from a collapsiblematerial, such as a fabric, enabling it to be rolled with the fabricawning when the awning is retracted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown an awning 10 in accordance withthe present invention generally including at least one fabric panel 14extending between a boxed roller 18 and a header 20, the awning 10 beingshown in an extended position in FIG. 1.

The awning fabric, roller 18, header 20, and operating mechanism (notshown) may be any conventional configuration well known in the art.

As illustrated in the cross sectional view of FIG. 2 duringprecipitation, water 22 collects on the panel 14 causing depressionthereof. As hereinabove noted, such water 22 may damage the panel 14 orsupport arm (not shown).

Release of the water as illustrated in FIG. 2 may be effective throughthe use of a breakaway valve/window 24 is shown in FIGS. 3-7.

The breakaway water valve/window 24, shown open in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 andclosed in FIGS. 4 and 7, is disposed in the fabric panel 14, andincludes a flap 26 hingeably attached to the fabric panel 14 to providea drip hole or opening 28 through the fabric panel 14.

The hingeable attachment is disposed along an edge portion 32 of theflap 26. Another edge portion 34 which may include remaining perimeterof the flap includes a releasable joiner 38 which may be, for example, aVelcro® type fastener or a suitable multi-stick adhesive, which operatesin a manner similar to that found on Post-It® notes.

Upon suitable pressure from accumulated water 42, the flap 26 releasesfrom the fabric panel 14 thus opening the valve 24 enabling passage ofwater 40 therethrough as shown in FIG. 2.

The flap may be reattached to the panel 14 by winding the panel 14 ontothe roller 18 as shown in FIGS. 6-7. Preferably, the edge portion 32 isdisposed and a position for winding onto-the roller before winding ofthe edge portion 34 to ensure reseal.

Thus, the edge 34 is disposed at a position enabling resealing of areleased joiner 38 upon rolling of the panel 14 onto the roller 18,release of the joiner 38 being caused by water weight, as hereinabovenoted.

The adherence of the Velcro® or adhesive will be, of course, depend uponthe tolerable water weight on the awning 10 and can be empiricallydetermined.

With reference to FIGS. 8-9, there is shown another awning embodiment 48utilizing a breakaway water valve/window 50 in accordance with thepresent invention, common reference characters depicting substantiallyidentical or similar elements, as hereinbefore described.

In this embodiment 50, a pressure sensitive releasable joiner 52includes a resilient flap material, preferably circular in configurationwith an edge portion 56 hingeably attached to the fabric panel 14 alonga circumferential arc 60. Radii 62 define another edge portion.

The valve 50 opens along the radii 62 under weight of water 42accumulated on the awning 48, thereby releasing same through a drip hole66 defined by opening of the radii 62, see FIG. 9. This embodiment maybe adhered to the panel 14 by an adhesive 68.

With reference to FIGS. 10-11, a gutter 70 may be disposed under thedrip hole 66 on the panel 14 for conducting water passing through thedrip hole 66 to an outside perimeter 74 of the awning 10.

The gutter 70 may be formed from a fabric and thereby windable with thepanel 14 onto the roller 18. As shown, the gutter 70 has an axis 78generally parallel to a slope 80 of the panel 14.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 13-15 a gutter 84 may be provided forconducting water passing through the valve 48 which has an axis 88generally periphery to the slope 80 of the panel 14.

In either case, the gutter 70, 84 function to conduct water to theoutside perimeter 72 of the awning 10.

As shown in FIG. 15, the gutter 84 is formed from a fabric which enableswinding onto the roller 18 with the panel 14.

Although there has been hereinabove described a specific awning fabricbreakaway valve/window in accordance with the present invention for thepurpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention may be used toadvantage, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limitedthereto. That is, the present invention may suitably comprise, consistof, or consist essentially of the recited elements. Further, theinvention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced inthe absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalentarrangements which may occur to those skilled in the art, should beconsidered to be within the scope of the present invention as defined inthe appended claims.

1. A breakaway water valve/window for a fabric awning, the valve/windowcomprising: a flap hingeably attachable to the fabric awning along anedge portion of said flap; and a pressure sensitive releasable joinerdisposable between the fabric awning and another edge portion of saidflap.
 2. The valve/window according to claim 1 wherein the joinercomprises a Velcro® type fastener.
 3. The valve/window according toclaim 1 wherein the joiner comprises an adhesive.
 4. The valve/windowaccording to claim 1 wherein the edge portion and the another edgeportion comprises an entire perimeter of said flap.
 5. The valve/windowaccording to claim 1 wherein the joiner comprises a resilient flapmaterial.
 6. The valve/window according to claim 5 wherein the flap iscircular and the edge portion comprising a circumferential arc and theanother edge portion comprises a radius.
 7. An awning comprising: afabric panel; a flap hingeably attached to the panel along an edgeportion of said flap; and a pressure sensitive releasable joinerdisposed between the panel and another edge portion of said flap.
 8. Theawning according to claim 7 further comprises a roller for winding thepanel thereabout and the another edge portion is disposed at a positionenabling resealing of a released joiner upon rolling of the panel ontothe roller.
 9. The awning according to claim 7 wherein the edge portionis disposed at a position winding onto said roller before winding of theanother edge portion onto said roller.
 10. The awning according to claim7 wherein the joiner comprises a Velcro® type fastener.
 11. The awningaccording to claim 7 wherein the joiner comprises an adhesive.
 12. Anawning comprising: a fabric panel; a flap hingeably attached to thepanel an edge portion of said flap; a pressure sensitive releasablejoiner disposed between the panel and another edge portion of said flap;and a gutter disposed under said flap for conducting water to an outsideperimeter of the panel.
 13. The awning according to claim 12 furthercomprising a roller for winding the panel thereabout.
 14. The awningaccording to claim 13 wherein said gutter is rollable with the panelabout said roller.
 15. The awning according to claim 14 wherein saidgutter is formed from a fabric.
 16. The awning according to claim 15wherein said gutter has an axis generally parallel to a slope of thepanel.
 17. The awning according to claim 15 wherein said gutter has aaxis generally perpendicular to a slope of the panel.
 18. The awningaccording to claim 14 wherein the edge portion is disposed at a positionenabling resealing of a released joiner upon rolling of the panel ontothe roller.
 19. The awning according to claim 18 wherein the edgeportion is disposed at a position rollable onto said roller beforerolling of the another edge portion onto said roller.
 20. The awningaccording to claim 12 wherein the joiner comprises a resistant flapmaterial.
 21. The awning according to claim 20 wherein the flap iscircular and the edge portion comprises a circumferential arc and theanother edge portion comprises a radius.